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Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
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This is SD Hudson Magic.
Jane Eyre Chapter 19 Continued Rise Miss Eyre Leave me,
Said the gypsy.
The play is played out.
Where was I?
Did I wake or sleep?
Had I been dreaming?
Did I dream still?
The old woman's voice had changed.
Her accent,
Her gesture and all familiar to me as my own face in a glass,
As the speech of my own tongue.
I got up but did not go.
I looked.
I stirred the fire and I looked again,
But she drew her bonnet and her bandage closer about her face and beckoned me to depart.
The flame illuminated her hand stretched out,
Roused now and on the alert for discoveries.
I once again noticed that hand.
It was no more the withered limb of eld than my own.
It was a rounded supple member with smooth fingers symmetrically turned.
A broad ring flashed on the little finger and stooping forward I looked at it again and saw a gem I had seen a hundred times before.
Again I looked at the face which was no longer turned from me.
On the contrary,
The bonnet was doffed,
The bandage displaced.
The head advanced.
Well Jane,
Do you know me?
Asked the familiar voice.
Only take off the red cloak sir and then.
But the string is in a knot.
Help me.
Break it sir.
There then,
Off ye lendings.
And Mr.
Rochester stepped out of his disguise.
Now sir,
What a strange idea.
But well carried out eh?
Don't you think so?
With the ladies you must manage well.
But not with you.
You did not act the character of a gypsy with me.
What character did I act?
My own?
No,
Some unaccountable one.
In short,
I believe you've been trying to draw me out or in.
You've been talking nonsense to make me talk nonsense.
It is scarcely fair sir.
Do you forgive me Jane?
I cannot tell till I've thought it all over.
If on reflection I find I've fallen into no great absurdity,
I shall try to forgive you.
But it was not right.
Oh,
You have been very correct.
Very careful.
Very sensible.
I reflected and thought on the hole I had.
It was a comfort.
But indeed I had been on my guard almost from the beginning of the interview.
Something of masquerade I suspected.
I knew gypsies and fortune tellers did not express themselves as this seeming old woman had expressed herself.
Besides,
I'd noted her feigned voice,
Her anxiety to conceal her features.
But my mind had been running on Grace Poole,
That living enigma,
That mystery of mysteries,
As I considered her.
I never thought of Mr.
Rochester.
Well,
Said he,
What are you musing about?
What does that grave smile signify?
Wonder and self-congratulations,
Sir.
I have your permission to retire now,
I suppose.
No,
Stay a moment.
Tell me what the people in this drawing room yonder are doing.
Discussing the gypsy,
I dare say.
Sit down.
Let me hear what they say about me.
I had better not stay long,
Sir.
It might be near eleven o'clock.
Oh,
Are you aware,
Mr.
Rochester,
A stranger has arrived here since you left this morning?
A stranger?
No.
Who can it be?
I expected no one.
Is he gone?
No.
He said he had known you long,
And he could take the liberty of installing himself here until you returned.
The devil he did.
Did he give his name?
His name is Mason,
Sir,
And he comes from the West Indies.
From a Spanish town in Jamaica,
I think.
Mr.
Rochester was standing near me.
He had taken my hand as if to lead me to a chair.
As I spoke,
He gave my wrist a convulsive grip.
The smile on his lips froze.
Apparently a spazzle caught his breath.
Mason,
The West Indies,
He said,
In a tone one might fancy a speaking automaton to announce its single words.
Mason,
The West Indies,
He reiterated,
Had he went over the syllables three times,
Growing,
In the intervals of speaking,
Whiter than ashes.
He hardly seemed to know what he was doing.
Do you feel ill,
Sir?
I inquired.
Jane,
I've got a blow.
I've got a blow,
Jane.
He staggered.
Oh,
Lean on me,
Sir.
Jane,
You offered me your shoulder once before.
Let me have it now.
Yes,
Sir,
Yes,
And my arm.
He sat down and made me sit beside him.
Holding my hand in both his own,
He chafed it,
Gazing on me at the same time with a most troubled and dreary look.
My little friend,
Said he,
I wish I were in a quiet island with only you,
And trouble and danger and hideous recollections removed from me.
Can I help you,
Sir?
I'd give my life to serve you.
Jane,
If aid is wanted,
I'll seek it at your hands.
I promise you that.
Thank you,
Sir.
Tell me what to do.
I'll try at least to do it.
Fetch me now,
Jane,
A glass of wine from the dining room.
They will be at supper there,
And tell me if Mason is with them and what he's doing.
I went.
I found all the party in the dining room at supper,
As Mr.
Rochester had said.
They were not seated at table.
The supper was arranged on the sideboard.
Each had taken what he chose,
And they stood about here and there in groups,
Their plates and glasses in their hands.
Everyone seemed in high glee.
Laughter and conversation were general and animated.
Mr.
Mason stood near the fire,
Talking to Colonel and Mrs.
Dent,
And appeared as merry as any of them.
I filled a wine glass.
I saw Miss Ingram watch me frowning as I did so.
She thought I was taking liberty,
I dare say.
And I returned to the library.
Mr.
Rochester's extreme pallor had disappeared,
And he looked once more firm and stern.
He took the glass from my hand.
Here is to your health,
Ministrant Spirit,
He said.
He swallowed the contents and returned it to me.
What are they doing,
Jane?
Laughing and talking,
Sir.
They don't look grave and mysterious,
As if they'd heard something strange.
Not at all.
They're full of jest and gaiety.
And Mason?
He was laughing too.
If all these people came in a body and spat at me,
What would you do,
Jane?
Turn them out of the room,
Sir,
If I could.
He half smiled.
But if I were to go to them,
And they only looked at me coldly and whispered sneeringly amongst each other,
And then dropped off and left me one by one,
What then?
Would you go to them?
I rather think not,
Sir.
I should have more pleasure in staying with you.
To comfort me?
Yes,
Sir.
To comfort you as well as I could.
And if they laid you under a ban for adhering to me?
I probably should know nothing about their ban,
And if I did,
I should care nothing about it.
Then you could dare censure for my sake?
I could dare it for the sake of any friend who deserved my adherence,
As you,
I am sure,
Do.
Go back now into the room.
Step quietly up to Mason and whisper in his ear that Mr.
Rochester has come and wishes to see him.
Show him in here,
And then leave me.
Yes,
Sir.
I did his behest.
The company all stared at me as I passed straight through them.
I sought Mr.
Mason,
Delivered the message,
And preceded him from the room.
I ushered him into the library,
And then I went upstairs.
At a late hour,
After I had been in bed some time,
I heard the visitors repair to their chambers.
I distinguished Mr.
Rochester's voice,
And heard him say,
He spoke cheerfully,
And the gay tone set my heart at ease.
I was soon asleep.
